Recipero CheckMEND is the most complete international listing of lost and stolen mobile devices available, comprised of data from major wireless carriers and law-enforcement entities globally. Using the CheckMEND tool, CCA members will have the ability to identify lost or stolen devices and prevent these devices from entering the carrier’s buyback programs.

In addition, CCA can help eliminate trafficking in stolen mobile devices in the U.S. and abroad by submitting the respective identification numbers of all devices that have been reported as lost or stolen into Recipero’s CheckMEND database. The CheckMEND database can also be used by consumers and law-enforcement agencies to verify that a pre-owned CCA member smartphone has not been reported lost or stolen

Consumer safety is a priority for our members, and I am delighted that CCA and Recipero have formed a strategic partnership to help preserve the safety of our members’ customers

said CCA President & CEO Steven K. Berry.

Giving carriers the tools they need to identify stolen or lost devices will certainly help protect their customers and build loyalty, while at the same time proactively reduce mobile-device theft and the sale of stolen smartphones in the U.S. and abroad. The CCA/Recipero effort is a practical, common-sense business solution to solve a real problem for consumers.

Recipero is trusted by thousands of clients and data providers to securely aggregate, analyze and interrogate data. Forming part of millions of decision-making processes and transactions every month, Recipero’s device-led data and intelligence solutions are provided online, in real-time, and are used globally by law enforcement, wireless carriers, insurers, recyclers, retailers and consumers. Learn more and visit Recipero at: www.recipero.com

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2015/01/19/reciperos-2014-mobile-device-crime-facts-and-figures/feed/0Police advise residents to log their giftshttps://blog.recipero.com/2015/01/03/police-advise-residents-to-log-their-gifts/
https://blog.recipero.com/2015/01/03/police-advise-residents-to-log-their-gifts/#commentsSat, 03 Jan 2015 09:45:15 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1421Continue reading Police advise residents to log their gifts→]]>Police are urging people to get their new gifts logged to keep them out of the hands of thieves.

The Northumberland Gazette has reported that Northumbria Police are advising residents to get new bikes, phones, electricals, tools and other valuables registered with free property logging website Immobilise.com

And those who received iPads, iPhones and other similar smartphones and tablets for Christmas are urged to activate built-in GPS systems and download apps which help locate stolen property.

The immediate crime prevention activity will mean if new property is stolen and later recovered it can be returned to the rightful owner, as well as potentially catching criminals in possession of stolen goods.

The advice is part of Operation Soundwave – a campaign aimed at cutting volume crime and tackling opportunist thieves – which is ongoing over the festive season.

Immobilise is the world’s largest register of property where members of the public can log their valuables – anything such as mobile phones, bikes, tools, electricals and gardening equipment. It’s free to register and takes just a few minutes to sign up.

Many people will have received devices such as iPhones, games consoles and laptops for Christmas and I’m sure crime prevention is not something which is at the forefront of people’s mind when they have just received gifts and are enjoying festivities.

But I’d like to remind people that it’s important to take a few moments to take a note of the serial number and register with immobilise where an image can be uploaded and the serial number recorded.

It means if it is stolen and recovered, it can be returned to the rightful owner as well as ensuring those found in possession of it can be dealt with, potentially preventing further crime.

The more people that register with immobilise, the easier it is to return stolen property and the more difficult it is for criminals to profit from their crimes.

Gadget-lovers are also being urged to make the most of tracking technology to stay one step ahead of thieves.

Supt Paterson added:

We of course would urge everyone to protect their property from thieves in the first place, such as making sure phones are secured in zip pockets or handbags, not leaving items lying around on pub or cafe tables and never leaving electronic items on show in a vehicle.

However, if such equipment is stolen, taking this simple step can make the difference between losing the item forever or having it tracked, located and seized by police.

Modern technology has its place alongside the more traditional police work and we’ll continue to combine all investigative techniques to cut crime across Northumbria and stop thieves in their tracks.

It’s also vital residents report anything suspicious to police straight away so they can investigate. Police can be called on 101, or to report a crime ongoing dial 999.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2015/01/03/police-advise-residents-to-log-their-gifts/feed/0Buyer beware – Use CheckMEND and buy with confidencehttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/12/11/buyer-beware-use-checkmend-and-buy-with-confidence/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/12/11/buyer-beware-use-checkmend-and-buy-with-confidence/#commentsThu, 11 Dec 2014 11:06:14 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1415Continue reading Buyer beware – Use CheckMEND and buy with confidence→]]>This story in the Telegraph is typical of the type of issue we see consumers and traders encounter each day.

Our advice when considering the purchase of a secondhand mobile device regardless of whether it is via online auction sites like eBay or a bricks an mortar shop, is to check its history with www.CheckMEND.com which provides the most comprehensive check available.

CheckMEND is part of the Recipero Crime Reduction Ecosystem that has been developed over the past 15 years in partnership with Police, Retailers, Networks, Insurers, and the Public delivering tangible crime reduction benefits throughout the industry.

Ensure that the lock/erase/restore functionalities built into many phones today is enabled by default.

This is important progress for consumers, many of whom choose not to enable such mechanisms. In future it is hoped they will have to actively choose to disable them. Consumer choice will not be restricted – but they will be protected by default. In the area of theft from consumers, such functionality is having an effect already. Changing the default configuration will ensure more consumers are protected.

Secure the unique device identifiers by ensuring they cannot be changed.

This is absolutely crucial to both the good operation of cellular networks and in the fight against crime. The practice of reprogramming is already outlawed in several countries but enforcement is virtually impossible. Making identifiers immutable at a hardware level will make circumvention uneconomical for criminals. At the same time it will ensure that existing tools such as cross-operator blocking continue to effectively contribute to the fight against device crime.

Improve use of data to stop the resale of stolen devices.

This request has three components and is the most significant recommendation. Data sharing is already used to reduce wider crimes involving corporate theft and contract fraud that blocking or ‘kill switch’ functions do not address but there are gaps that need to be addressed.

Some existing databases are slow and cumbersome

Industry needs to use the “best of breed” databases to share information.

Industry must support law enforcement agencies in its actions

The Chairman sets the challenge “There must be an app for that!” Well, there is, of course, and it can be accessed by law enforcement officers from any smartphone, tablet or web browser at www.nmpr.com. This web application brings together databases old and new in one place that officers can use very simply. The global NMPR is used by over 80,000 police officers and staff in the UK and 75 agencies in the US are currently trialing its use. We anticipate that the FCC’s attention in this area will encourage all law enforcement agencies to explore this powerful tool.

Industry must take steps to verify that a device is not stolen when it is offered to them in trade

Some industry leaders including Sprint, Gamestop and Gazelle adopted such practices up to two years ago. They recognized that simply checking whether a phone is blocked by another network is not enough. Less than 50% ¹ of phones that are not in the hands of the rightful owner are reported to networks. Those subject to insurance claims, corporate theft, supply chain leakage, contract and rental fraud account for a massive amount of thefts that do not result in network blocking or kill switch activation. These can only be addressed by both data sharing from industry and appropriate due-diligence at the point of trade.

The Chairman’s requests to industry are clear, focused and actionable. The solutions to each challenge are available and cost effective. The wireless industry and law enforcement would do well to look closely at those solutions.

¹ As at 8th Dec 2014 US blocked phones accounts for 48.9% of the total US stolen phones that Recipero holds records of.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/12/08/fcc-issue-clear-focused-actionable-guidance-to-tackle-phone-crime/feed/0Carmarthenshire Police and retailers use Immobilise to combat property thefthttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/11/21/carmarthenshire-police-and-retailers-use-immobilise-to-combat-property-theft/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/11/21/carmarthenshire-police-and-retailers-use-immobilise-to-combat-property-theft/#commentsFri, 21 Nov 2014 14:51:40 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1377Continue reading Carmarthenshire Police and retailers use Immobilise to combat property theft→]]>Carmarthenshire Police Neighbourhood Development Team and Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership are working together with retailers to get electrical items purchased in stores uploaded onto www.immobilise.com at the point of purchase.

Starting on Wednesday December 3rd, retailers will give customers the opportunity to register their new electrical and valuable items recorded and uploaded onto the national property registration site for FREE.

Registration forms for www.immobilise.com accounts will be completed within the store with customers before being put online by Dyfed Powys Police officers. Once registered with an account the owners will then have the opportunity to add further property onto that account.

The online Immobilise property registration system used by all UK police forces via the NMPR, and second hand traders via CheckMEND to check whether property that is recovered or offered for sale they come in contact with is stolen. If so it allows them to return it to the owners and also assists in bringing offenders to justice who are in possession of the property.

The scheme is being rolled out to tackle the issue of victims not being able to provide full details of their property when it is lost or stolen. In addition it is hoped it will assist the police in bring those responsible for stealing property and handling the property to justice.

PS78 Moore said:

Over the past few years we have adopted a very successful partnership with Carmarthenshire Community Safety and attended community events encouraging members of the public to take measures registering and securing their property. This has been reasonably successful, but by registering the property at the point of purchase it is hoped that even more people will benefit being signed up to www.immobilise.com.

We have currently rolled this initiative out for Cycles with Halfords in Llanelli and Carmarthen and are confident our decision to expand the initiative to the other retailers will benefit all in our commitment to prevent crime.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/11/21/carmarthenshire-police-and-retailers-use-immobilise-to-combat-property-theft/feed/0Police and Asda work together to get shoppers property registered on Immobilisehttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/08/31/police-and-asda-work-together-to-get-shoppers-property-registered-on-immobilise/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/08/31/police-and-asda-work-together-to-get-shoppers-property-registered-on-immobilise/#commentsSun, 31 Aug 2014 19:00:20 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1372Continue reading Police and Asda work together to get shoppers property registered on Immobilise→]]>Humberside Police are working in partnership with ASDA at Mount Pleasant Retail Park to get electrical items purchased in the store uploaded onto www.immobilise.com at the point of purchase.

Starting Sunday 31 August 2014, the store will give customers the opportunity to register their new electrical and valuable items recorded and uploaded onto the national property registration site for FREE.

Registration forms for www.immobilise.com accounts will be completed within the store with customers before being put online by Humberside Police volunteers. Once registered with an account the owners will then have the opportunity to add further property onto that account.

Immobilise is an online property registration system used by all UK police forces and second hand dealers to check whether property that is recovered or offered for sale they come in contact with is stolen. If so it allows them to return it to the owners and also assists in bringing offenders to justice who are in possession of the property.

The scheme is being rolled out to tackle the issue of victims not being able to provide full details of their property when it is lost or stolen. In addition it is hoped it will assist the police in bring those responsible for stealing property and handling the property to justice.

PCSO Chris Wright said:

Over the past few years police have attended community events and other engagement opportunities to encourage members of the public to register all their property on the site. This has been reasonably successful, but by registering the property at the point of purchase it is hoped that even more people will benefit being signed up to www.immobilise.com.

I am delighted that ASDA have agreed to offer this service and builds on the strong links we have the stores in this area. They were quick to get involved with Operation Sodium to assist the force in tackling retail crime and their support in hosting a wide range of crime prevention events in stores.

If the immobilise registration proves a success in ASDA I hope other retailers will follow suit and look at the possibility of offering a similar service to their customers.

A similar initiative was rolled out via Cycle shops in Hull in April and to date over 1000’s new cycles have been registered onto www.immobilise.com.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/08/31/police-and-asda-work-together-to-get-shoppers-property-registered-on-immobilise/feed/0Berkshire Police urge Public to log items on Immobilise to deter thieveshttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/08/21/berkshire-police-urge-public-to-log-items-on-immobilise-to-deter-thieves/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/08/21/berkshire-police-urge-public-to-log-items-on-immobilise-to-deter-thieves/#commentsThu, 21 Aug 2014 15:25:34 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1368Continue reading Berkshire Police urge Public to log items on Immobilise to deter thieves→]]>Gadget owners across West Berkshire are being encouraged by local police to register their goods online so that officers can easily track them in the event that they are stolen.

Sgt Alan Hawkett who is part of the local policing team for Bucklebury and Downlands is leading the initiative and wants people to register their equipment on to the Immobilise website. The free web-site records unique serial numbers for many items including i-pads and bicycles so that police can track them in the event that they are stolen.

Historically, if you had your television stolen you wouldn’t have the serial number

This scheme allows you to upload this information on to the Immobilise system.

If an item is stolen the public needs to notify both the police and Immobilise, which will then enable us to be able to see it as a stolen item on the site with the serial number.

Sgt Hawkett feels that use of this system will help deter thieves because;

soon it will become common knowledge that people can label their property which is then identifiable to the police.

The information stored on the website will only be accessed by officers in the event of a theft being reported, says Sgt Hawkett.

The police have already been successful in encouraging members of the public to sign up to the scheme. Since June 245 items were registered on the service at a three-hour session for members of the public, and a further 23 on July 25 at an event in Thatcham, followed by 33 sign-ups on August 2nd.

The police were also in Newbury town centre last Saturday between 6pm and 11pm informing members of the public of the scheme and Sgt Hawkett says that 36 accounts were created at the session. Banjo Cycles and Specialised Concept Store in Newbury are both involved with the project and support it.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/08/21/berkshire-police-urge-public-to-log-items-on-immobilise-to-deter-thieves/feed/0Sussex Police urge residents to register on Immobilise to help identify recovered propertyhttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/30/sussex-police-urge-residents-to-register-on-immobilise-to-help-identify-recovered-property/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/30/sussex-police-urge-residents-to-register-on-immobilise-to-help-identify-recovered-property/#commentsWed, 30 Jul 2014 07:35:49 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1362Continue reading Sussex Police urge residents to register on Immobilise to help identify recovered property→]]>Sussex Police are urging the public to join the battle against burglars by logging their valuables on the Immobilise National Property Register which allows police and the public to work together to make stolen items too hot to handle.

Residents can enter the details of their possessions on the free website and report when they have been stolen.

Police officers not just in Sussex but around the UK can then check the details of items that they find or seize against the database. By confirming that the seized items had been stolen, officers can then look to prosecute whoever they were seized from for burglary or handling stolen goods – and can return the valuables to their rightful owners.

Sussex Police is encouraging residents to use Immobilise as part of Operation Magpie, the force’s crackdown on burglary across the county.

When our officers respond to reports of burglary, they often cannot get enough detailed information about the items which have been stolen – without old boxes for electrical items or photographs of jewellery for example it can be very difficult to accurately identify what has been taken.

Better information greatly increases the chances of us being able to reunite stolen property with its rightful owner, helps us to get a better picture of which burglaries could be linked and gives us the evidence we need to prove that property is stolen.

That helps us to link items to burglars and those trading in stolen goods and means we can get offenders off the streets and into the courts.

I’d like to see as many residents as possible playing their part in helping to beat burglary in Sussex.

It’s simple – and it’s free – to register your personal items on the website and I hope people will do so. As well as making it easier for the police to track down registered owners, it can also act as a deterrent as it makes it harder for thieves to sell items on because they can be identified.

As well as registering mobile phones and electrical items with serial numbers, residents can also register other items by uploading photographs and giving a description.

They can also use the website to instantly access a list of all their property and to print off certificates of ownership if they need to make a claim to their insurance company.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/30/sussex-police-urge-residents-to-register-on-immobilise-to-help-identify-recovered-property/feed/0https://blog.recipero.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/magpie.pngOver 650 bicycles now registered onto Immobilise by cycle shops in Hullhttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/17/over-650-bicycles-now-registered-onto-immobilise-by-cycle-shops-in-hull/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/17/over-650-bicycles-now-registered-onto-immobilise-by-cycle-shops-in-hull/#commentsThu, 17 Jul 2014 12:34:08 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1354Continue reading Over 650 bicycles now registered onto Immobilise by cycle shops in Hull→]]>Humberside Police and cycle shops across Hull are continuing to work together with more than 650 new cycles registered onto www.immobilise.com by stores since the end of May 2014.

Cycle shops across Hull assist customers with registering their newly purchased or repaired cycles for free onto the property registration site at point of purchase. Once they have completed the registration forms with customers in store, Humberside Police Community Safety Volunteers then set up the on-line accounts.

Once registered with an account the owners are then encouraged to add further property onto their personal immobilise account.

www.immobilise.com is a FREE web based property recording system, endorsed and searchable by all UK Police Forces. This is a fantastic tool, used by police across the UK. It allows members of the public to register property details of cycles, mobile phones and other electricals on-line for FREE, which then assists police in returning items to their rightful owners and helps bring offenders to justice.

In addition to Police searching for stolen property, registered second hand dealers and mobile phone recyclers frequently access the data and are assisting in the fight against the market in stolen goods.

If a member of the public was to buy a secondhand item they could also check it for a small cost on www.checkmend.com/uk/, prior to purchase.

To date the following thirteen stores have completed this service for their customers in Hull:

Bob’s Bikes, Beverley Road.

Cliff Pratt Cycles, Spring Bank.

Doug Scott Cycles, Beverley Road.

East Coast Bicycles, Princess Avenue.

Freetown Sports, Prospect Street.

Halfords, St Andrews Quay.

Ken Ellerker Cycles, Chanterlands Avenue.

Jobes Cycles, Anlaby Road.

Jobes Cycles, Holderness Road.

Motor World, Hessle Road.

Richardson’s Cycles, Marfleet Lane.

Star Bikes, Willerby Road.

Steve’s Cycles, Chanterlands Avenue.

As part of continued support for tackling cycle crime, East Coast Cycles on Princes Avenue, Hull are holding a cycle marking event for bike owners on Saturday 19 July 2014 between 1000hrs and 1700hrs.

The local Neighbourhood Policing Team will be assisting in cycle marking cycles in a gazebo at the front of the store and with refreshments provided by the store.

Chris Hardy, Hull’s Second Hand Dealers Officer said: “Cycle stores have been quick to embrace the opportunity to support the police in tackling cycle crime. The fact over 650 new cycles have been registered in just over six weeks is an excellent up take. I hope by increasing cycles registered on-line we can reduce cycle thefts in the city, with thieves reluctant to take property which is identifiable and thus can lead to prosecution for stealing or even handling stolen property.

“People really should consider using the website “CheckMEND” to check any second-hand cycle, or indeed any item with a unique serial number, they are looking to purchase. Humberside Police are uploading the serial / frame number of all items reported to us as stolen, onto the database and the use of CheckMEND checks protects members of the public from inadvertently buying stolen goods”.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/17/over-650-bicycles-now-registered-onto-immobilise-by-cycle-shops-in-hull/feed/0Recipero, mobile device-led data and intelligence specialists, appoint Greg Post as President, North America.https://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/16/recipero-mobile-device-led-data-and-intelligence-specialists-appoint-greg-post-as-president-north-america/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/16/recipero-mobile-device-led-data-and-intelligence-specialists-appoint-greg-post-as-president-north-america/#commentsWed, 16 Jul 2014 13:00:44 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1348Continue reading Recipero, mobile device-led data and intelligence specialists, appoint Greg Post as President, North America.→]]>DENVER, CO. – July 16, 2014 – Recipero is delighted to announce the appointment of Greg Post as President, North America and at the same time the opening of new offices in Denver, Colorado.

The business’ solutions include CheckMEND that is used for checking the authenticity of ownership of devices by many US retailers, cellular operators and recyclers. These include Sprint, GameStop, Gazelle and Ingram Micro.

The Patriot insurance fraud investigation tool is used by cell phone and consumer electronics insurers in the US and UK.

Recipero has a long-standing relationship with US law enforcement and has recently been invited to join the FCC’s Mobile Device Theft Working Group. Many organizations see Recipero’s solutions as key to reducing handset crime in the same way they have been used by UK police for the past ten years to great effect.

Mark Harman, CEO of Recipero, said, “This is a very exciting stage of the business’ development at a time when our data solutions have a critical role to play in helping all stakeholders reduce device crime in its various forms. In Greg we have joined forces with a well-known and highly respected telecom professional who will help spearhead our development over the coming years”.

As President, North America Greg Post is responsible for overseeing the growth, operations, and business development with wireless carriers, recyclers and retailers, insurance companies and law enforcement agencies in North America.
Greg has over 20 years executive experience of telecommunications and general management experience with Fortune 100 companies and venture-backed start-ups. He has held significant and varied positions in international and domestic wireless operations, business development, marketing and sales. This experience includes executive positions with T-Mobile, Cricket, Sprint Nextel, Nextel International and AT&T.

Greg Post’s view is “I’m excited to join Recipero as they expand their operations into North America. The company offers a very important solution for wireless carriers, insurance companies and law enforcement to reduce fraud, theft and track the status of cell phones and electronics for their customers”. The company has created a valuable ecosystem in the UK that will be equally compelling in the US.”

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/07/16/recipero-mobile-device-led-data-and-intelligence-specialists-appoint-greg-post-as-president-north-america/feed/0https://blog.recipero.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/gp-blk-thumb.jpgImmobilise helps Hull bike shops and police crackdown on cycle thefthttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/05/19/immobilise-helps-hull-bike-shops-and-police-crackdown-on-cycle-theft/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/05/19/immobilise-helps-hull-bike-shops-and-police-crackdown-on-cycle-theft/#commentsMon, 19 May 2014 16:18:26 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1254Continue reading Immobilise helps Hull bike shops and police crackdown on cycle theft→]]>The Hull Daily Mail has reported that bike shop owners are joining forces with police to tackle the scourge of cycle theft. Participating stores are encouraging people that purchase new bikes to register them on the online Immobilise National Property Database.

If the bike is stolen and recovered, police will be able to check the database via their NMPR system and return it to its owner.

Chris Hardy, Hull’s secondhand dealers officer, said:

Cycle stores have been quick to embrace the opportunity to support the police with this initiative, which is a fantastic opportunity for their customers to get their cycles registered on Immobilise before they leave the store.

By increasing the number of cycles registered online, I hope we can reduce cycle thefts in the city, as thieves will be reluctant to take property that is identifiable and can lead to prosecution for stealing the cycles or even handling stolen property.

As well as cycles, other property can be registered by the public on to the system once an account has been set up.

Bike theft has been rising in the city with an increase in shed and garage break-ins.

Ainthorpe Primary School pupil Grace Horton, nine, was reunited with her beloved bike three days after a burglary at her family’s home in West Hull. It had been stamped and added to Immobilise during an event run by police at the school.

Her mum Julie said:

She was inconsolable when I told her it had been stolen, even when I said I would buy her a new bike.

She said she just wanted her old one back.

Grace’s bike was found dumped outside a house three days after the break-in last month. The occupant called the police, who checked the their systems and realised it belonged to Grace.

Miss Horton said:

She was absolutely over the moon when the police said she could have her bike back.

I am so pleased she had it stamped, otherwise we never would have seen it again.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/05/19/immobilise-helps-hull-bike-shops-and-police-crackdown-on-cycle-theft/feed/0CheckMEND helps Police return phone after it is spotted on eBayhttps://blog.recipero.com/2014/04/25/checkmend-helps-police-return-phone-after-it-is-spotted-on-ebay/
https://blog.recipero.com/2014/04/25/checkmend-helps-police-return-phone-after-it-is-spotted-on-ebay/#commentsFri, 25 Apr 2014 13:46:08 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1188Continue reading CheckMEND helps Police return phone after it is spotted on eBay→]]>The Metropolitan Police have reported that a mobile phone that was recorded as being stolen in Croydon has been returned to its owner after police managed to track it down when the phone was sold on eBay.

The victim, a 32 year-old woman, reported to police that her phone had been stolen in Croydon town centre on Monday, 10 March. Initial enquiries failed to identify any suspects, as the shop’s CCTV had not recorded the incident.

However, police received an alert via their NMPR system that the phone’s IMEI number had been checked by somebody using the CheckMEND service – a service that allows people to see if a phone has been reported stolen or been blocked.

Through further enquiries, officers managed to identify that the phone had been put up for sale on the auction website within hours of if being reported stolen. Officers eventually identified the seller and on Thursday 17 April a 29-year-old woman was subsequently interviewed by police. She claimed to have found the phone in the town centre and decided to sell it on. She provided officers with the details of the person to whom she had sold the phone, and after further enquiries, the police were able to retrieve the phone from the buyer and return it to the owner on 17 April.

The 29-year-old woman was cautioned for the offence of theft by finding.

PC Robert Sidney from the Broad Green Safer Neighbourhoods Team, who investigated the case

This case highlights two important points. Firstly, if you’re buying a phone second-hand or over the Internet, then it is definitely worth checking to see if it has been reported stolen. You can do this through the CheckMEND website and whilst there is a small fee, it could save you a lot of money later on.

Secondly, whether you find a phone or any other expensive item or gadget in the street, then you could be committing an offence by simply keeping it. You should contact police or attend a police station to hand it in. If it doesn’t get claimed by the owner then it will be given to the finder, but if you just keep

The online CheckMEND service allows shops to search the National Mobile Property Register and other sources when purchasing items to find out if the item has been reported as lost or stolen. If this proves to be the case, the Police can then work to reunite the property with its’ rightful owner as well as taking the appropriate measures against whoever has tried to sell on lost or stolen property for their own financial gain.

In addition, second-hand shops in the area also receive regular alerts about items that have been reported as lost or stolen from across the county via Lancashire Police’s In The Know messaging system. Shops taking part in the scheme can be identified by the distinctive posters on display in their windows proclaiming them as a Safe Seller.

This scheme has been set up in conjunction with Preston City Council’s Licensing team, who along with the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime (LANPAC) has funded the purchase of transaction books to help shops when they are purchasing items.

CheckMEND’s ‘Safe Seller’ scheme is established in other towns and cities nationwide, and has already had some success with several arrests being made and numerous items of property being recovered and returned to their owners, including a mobile phone which was stolen during a burglary in Scotland.

PCSO Stephen Connelly said;

The CheckMEND system has already been proved in other areas of the country, and really does help to ensure shops are not selling on stolen goods and putting money into the hands of criminals.

Therefore, I would encourage Preston’s second-hand shops to sign up to the scheme, and our residents to vote with their feet and use the second-hand shops in Preston signed up to the Safe Seller scheme, so we can make Preston’s shops the most trusted in the area and ones which criminals cannot use to benefit from their illegal activities.

Councillor Robert Boswell, Preston City Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Environment, said;

This new CheckMEND scheme is a great way for people to buy with confidence and be reassured that the products they are buying are legitimate and not stolen.

We would ask all traders in Preston that sell second hand goods to sign up to the scheme so that both they and their customers do not become victims of crime by unwittingly selling on stolen goods.

CheckMEND is successfully run in other parts of the country and we are pleased that people in Preston are now able to buy goods more safely as a result of the scheme.

Neil Stewart from Recipero, the provider of the CheckMEND system, said;

CheckMEND is used by thousands of businesses throughout the UK, helping them avoid criminality and the costs associated with it.

Recipero has always worked closely with police to address mobile phone crime and the CheckMEND Safe Seller Scheme is a key part of our commitment to tackle this ongoing issue.

As part of Operation Spoke Durham Constabulary will be working closely with local cycle retailers, Immobilise.com and other organisations to introduce a bicycle marking scheme to property mark and register bicycles in County Durham and Darlington.

The aim of the scheme is that every new cycle sold will be marked and registered to their new owner. Current bicycle owners can also attend their local cycle retailers, police stations and other cycle marking events to have their cycle(s) marked and registered under the scheme.

Crime Prevention Officer PC David Williamson said:

This really is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wishing to protect their bicycle, a simple yet highly effective method of preventing a bicycle from being taken and it takes only a few minutes.

All customers who sign up to the scheme will be asked to complete a registration document, details provided will then be put onto a database so that Police can check the identity of cycles to identify them and to target bicycle thieves.

The officer launching the initiative, Det Supt Kevin Weir said:

The key benefit of the scheme is that should a bicycle be stolen it will be easy to identify by police. This means a stolen bicycle will be easy to return to a rightful owner.

I am also hopeful that the introduction of this scheme will be a deterrent to bicycle thieves. The message I want to send out is simple; if you are buying a new bicycle for Christmas this year or indeed into 2014, please register it with your retailer as part of Operation Spoke. Our aim is to get as many bikes as possible registered under the scheme, reducing the opportunity for bicycle theft across our force area.

People are asked to contact their local neighbourhood policing team, police station or cycle retailer for further information about the scheme.

Fishing tackle, quad bikes, jewellery, building materials and a lorry carrying a crane are just some of the more unusual items seized by officers since the launch of Operation Lockdown in October 2013.

Electrical items, mainly sat navs, car stereos, TVs, mobile phones and games consoles, have also been recovered from burglaries and vehicle crimes, and where possible, returned to their owners.

Chief Inspector Iain Chorlton said:

Having valuable or personal items stolen from your home or car is a distressing experience so any property we recover and return to people is good news.

We’re doing our utmost to track down criminals and recover stolen items but the public can help us, and more importantly themselves, by registering their property on the Immobilise website.

The online database is quick and free to use, and could help individuals to get their items back if they are lost or stolen. We know that people would rather not have anything stolen in the first place but thanks to Immobilise and the action we are taking, life is becoming more difficult for thieves.

The Force is deploying ‘sting’ vehicles across the county and officers are working closely with Crimestoppers to maximise intelligence and add to the thousand-plus arrests that have already been made during Operation Lockdown.

Between 1 October 2013 and 12 January 2014, police recovered stolen property linked to burglary and vehicle crime in South Yorkshire worth an estimated £3,017,629.

South Yorkshire Police would love to return stolen items to their owners and people can register their valuables free of charge at www.immobilise.com.

Further information about home and vehicle security is available in the Help and advice section of the Force’s website.

Anyone with information about burglary or vehicle crime should contact South Yorkshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The CheckMEND Charter was created as a means of establishing an industry-led set of best practices to prevent trading of stolen consumer electronics. In addition to protecting consumers and helping to avoid confusion and frustration, Charter participants pledge to actively help law enforcement agencies combat theft and fraud related to consumer electronics.

Several of the US’s biggest consumer electronics retail, reCommerce and recycling companies are already operating in

accordance with its principles, including the leading trade-in site Gazelle.

Gazelle was the first US consumer electronics trade-in site to deploy CheckMEND and continue to demonstrate their commitment to the consumer and industry through their involvement with the Charter and its creation.

Israel Ganot, CEO, Gazelle.

“When we first entered into a partnership with Recipero to leverage the CheckMEND tool, our goal was quite simple: to prevent thieves from benefiting from stolen consumer electronics, the new CheckMEND Charter takes this a step further, not only ensuring that Gazelle will never pay a consumer for a device that has been reported as lost or stolen, but to also ensure law enforcement agencies can more effectively combat consumer electronic device theft.

The CheckMEND Charter is a voluntary scheme, open to trade users of CheckMEND who agree to abide by its principles. In support of the Charter and its members, Recipero’s experienced CheckMEND team act as a trusted third party to help troubleshoot any issues that consumers may encounter with devices that are rejected.

Mark Harman, CEO of Recipero, commented:

“The adoption of the US Charter is something we have been working toward for several months. Our experience of the implementation of similar schemes in the UK has demonstrated that voluntary codes of practice such as this Charter have a measurable impact on mobile device related crime, results that we believe can be replicated in the US.”

CheckMEND is delivered online in real-time and is a cutting-edge analytics tool used to more accurately detect lost and stolen consumer electronics. The database is the most complete listing of devices available, comprised of data from major wireless carriers and law enforcement entities globally.

The CheckMEND service assists everyone from eBay users to mega retailers and recyclers like Gazelle to avoid lost, blocked and stolen devices.

About Recipero

Recipero (www.recipero.com) is trusted by thousands of clients and data providers to securely aggregate, analyze and interrogate data. Forming part of millions of decision making processes and transactions every month, Recipero’s device-led data and analytics solutions are provided online, in real-time, and are used globally by law enforcement, wireless carriers, insurers, recyclers, retailers and consumers.

About Gazelle

Gazelle is the nation’s leading consumer electronics trade-in site, providing an easy, fast and safe way for consumers to get cash for their unwanted devices. For more information on Gazelle and its participation in the CheckMEND Charter, visit: www.gazelle.com

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2014/01/09/recipero-launches-checkmend-charter-to-cut-cell-phone-crime/feed/0CheckMEND celebrates its 5th Anniversary in the U.S.https://blog.recipero.com/2013/12/11/checkmend-celebrates-its-5th-anniversary-in-the-u-s/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/12/11/checkmend-celebrates-its-5th-anniversary-in-the-u-s/#commentsWed, 11 Dec 2013 11:00:27 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1163Continue reading CheckMEND celebrates its 5th Anniversary in the U.S.→]]>CheckMEND is proud to be celebrating its 5th year of providing North America’s most reputable cell phone and mobile device history checking service.

The past 5 years have seen a great deal of change in global recommerce markets. This incredible growth has being driven by continual consumer demand for the latest and greatest mobile devices, which in turn has led to an ever-increasing number of second-hand devices being traded.

Environmental factors and regulatory issues have also been key drivers in how the market has developed for providers of trade-in and recycling programmes, all of which have resulted in soaring demand for CheckMEND.

CheckMEND’s commitment to the market has earned its reputation as a trusted third party and its service has become an embedded part of millions of transactions each year.

For retailers, recyclers, and other businesses handling second-hand devices, use of CheckMEND helps traders avoid lost, blocked and stolen devices, ensures compliance, and has a record of strong ROI.

For consumers using eBay, Craigslist or any other re-sale marketplace, a CheckMEND report can not only indicate a device’s current status, it also reports on other factors that can influence its value.

For Police and law-enforcement agencies, working with CheckMEND can cut investigation time, reduce costs, and contribute to the reduction of personal property crime.

Gazelle, a leader in consumer electronics trade-in was CheckMEND’s first U.S. customer. Matt Rowe, VP General Counsel at Gazelle said:

“Gazelle has experienced greater than 100 percent growth in volume for the past several years. With increased volume comes an increase in attempts to trade stolen devices. CheckMEND helps protect our business from that risk and better serve our customers.”

Mark Harman, CEO of Recipero the provider of CheckMEND, commented:

“The U.S. is currently our largest and fastest-growing market. To meet this need 12 months ago we committed investment in all areas of the service particularly in hardware infrastructure, software architecture, and support systems. Our investment ensures CheckMEND is extremely well placed to meet the high-volume, high availability needs of our U.S. clients today and in the future. It is fantastic that this has already been recognised by some of the U.S.’s largest organisations”

GameStop has more than 4,200 U.S. stores, all of which have an active smartphone trade-in program. CheckMEND is a key part of their in-store process where speed and reliability is critical.

Sean Cleland, Director of Recommerce at GameStop said:

“Integrating the Recipero CheckMEND technology with our POS systems and refurbishment facilities was simple and efficient. Their product is an integral part of our efforts to protect our customers and be in full compliance with local regulations.”

Notes for Editors

CheckMEND is provided by Recipero, a company trusted by thousands of data providers to securely aggregate, analyse and interrogate data. Recipero’s data and analytics are used globally by law enforcement agencies, wireless carriers, insurers, recyclers, retailers and consumers.

Chief Superintendent Jon Stratford who is in charge of burglary for Avon and Somerset Police said:

Over the Christmas period we’ll be working hard to keep you and your property safe. Please do your bit to help us.

After you’ve done your Christmas shopping, if you’ve bought any gadgets for your family and friends then make sure you log anything with a serial number on the national property database Immobilise. This will help us to return your property to you if it’s stolen and will make it harder for thieves to sell on.

I also can’t stress enough the importance or downloading and installing tracking software on your mobiles, tablets and laptops. We’ve had some great results recently where people have activated their tracking software as soon as their phone or tablet has been stolen. Not only did it allow us to catch the thief red-handed, it meant the victim got their property back quickly.

Whether you’re going away for Christmas or staying home to play with all your new toys, there are some simple tips you can follow to keep you and your family safe.

Your home is your castle

If you’re going away for Christmas, make sure your house looks occupied. It’s worth getting automatic time switches for lights and radios.

Ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your house whilst you’re away – they could park a car on your drive and collect any mail or free newspapers which might otherwise just sit in your porch.

Cancel deliveries of milk and newspapers discreetly – don’t announce your departure to a shop full of people. Only tell people who need to know you’re going away and don’t post your holiday dates on Facebook or Twitter.

Don’t have your home address showing on your luggage for the outward journey. Only put this on the inside of your cases.

Lock the garage and shed with proper security locks. Make sure your tools are locked away so they can’t be used to break into your house.

Remember to remove the keys from locked doors and windows and to keep them out of sight in a safe place.

Letter box restrictors can prevent thieves from accessing the lock from the outside.

Never leave valuables on display by windows or doors, especially those with cat flaps.

Keep presents out of sight and don’t leave packaging for new electrical goods on display outside your house – keep it out of sight until the recycling is collected.

Christmas shopping

Keep handbags, purses and wallets close to you and secure at all times.

Don’t leave bags hanging on the back of chairs in cafés and restaurants, under tables or in shopping trolleys.

Meet your neighbourhood team
Come to one of the local registration events going on across Avon and Somerset, where your local neighbourhood team can help you to register your property on Immobilise. You can also speak to them about any issues you might have and get general crime prevention advice to help keep you safe this winter. Visit the local pages of the Avon & Somerset Police website to get details of your nearest event.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/12/10/dont-let-burglars-ruin-your-christmas/feed/0To Protect it Register it is the Christmas message from Police in Lancashirehttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/11/25/to-protect-it-register-it-is-the-christmas-message-from-police-in-lancashire/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/11/25/to-protect-it-register-it-is-the-christmas-message-from-police-in-lancashire/#commentsMon, 25 Nov 2013 10:28:44 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1158Continue reading To Protect it Register it is the Christmas message from Police in Lancashire→]]>In the run up to Christmas, Preston Police are encouraging members of the public to register their new xbox games console or PS4 on the national property register via www.immobilse.com, as soon as they’ve purchased them.

Approximately 340 games consoles have been stolen as part of thefts, robberies and burglaries in the last 12 months, across the whole of Lancashire. Very few are recovered as victims are unable to distinguish their property with serial numbers or unique markers.

PCSO Stephen Connolly says:

People are starting their Christmas shopping and games such as xboxes and the new ps4 will be very popular. The consoles are highly desirable to thieves as they are lightweight, portable and easy to sell on. Registering the items on www.immobilise.com improves your chances of getting it back if it is lost or stolen.

www.immobilise.com can be used by members of the public and businesses to register their valued possessions or company assets and is used by all UK Police forces to trace owners of lost and stolen property.

Preston City Neighbourhood Teams are working with all city centre retailers stocking the consoles, who will

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/11/25/to-protect-it-register-it-is-the-christmas-message-from-police-in-lancashire/feed/0York residents invited to register valuables on national Immobilise databasehttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/11/20/york-residents-invited-to-register-valuables-on-national-immobilise-database/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/11/20/york-residents-invited-to-register-valuables-on-national-immobilise-database/#commentsWed, 20 Nov 2013 09:03:30 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1154Continue reading York residents invited to register valuables on national Immobilise database→]]>PCSOs Rachel Shaw and Tony Barge show Tracey Simpson-Laing how they use the new scanning equipment. (Source: York Press)

City of York Council is urging people to register their property free of charge using new technology invested in by North Yorkshire Police and the Safer York Partnership during the week-long national campaign. The authority teamed up with police to provide £36,000 to fund the Hermes and Apollo kits.

Hermes allows the police and other organisations to upload details of property by recording identifying features, size or serial numbers, which can be retrieved from the Immobilise National Property Register that the police are able to access securely via the PNC and numerous other interfaces.

to scan an item, store its data on the National Mobile Property Register and retrieve the information when suspected stolen goods come to light.

The eleven sessions for the public are being held so people can either have small items such as smartphones or laptops registered, or can bring details – including photographs – of valuable furniture or serial numbers of bikes, for example.

Coun Linsay Cunningham-Cross, cabinet member for crime, said:

Safer York Partnership is keen to use innovative technology to deliver more effective and efficient responses to tackling crime.

By taking a few minutes to register their property on Hermes and Apollo and pick up security advice, residents can not only help prevent their belongings being stolen in the first place, but can be assured that if something is stolen, they are more likely to get it back.

Supt Phil Cain said:

Often the police recover items during searches or by other means, and it’s not always clear if those goods are stolen.

By using the Immobilise register, they can find out instantly. This not only saves officer time, but helps progress investigations and means the rightful owner gets their belongings back.

The sessions will take place at the council’s West Offices, in Station Rise, on the 19th and 20th November, between 9am and 3pm.

There are also sessions at York Explore library, in Library Square, on Friday 21st from 1pm to 5pm, and on Sunday 23rd from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

There will also be sessions at York University Library from today until Friday, 9am to 3pm, or at York Art Gallery, on Saturday and Sunday, from 9am to 3pm.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/11/20/york-residents-invited-to-register-valuables-on-national-immobilise-database/feed/0ReportMyLoss service now available Nationallyhttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/10/03/reportmyloss-service-now-available-nationally/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/10/03/reportmyloss-service-now-available-nationally/#commentsThu, 03 Oct 2013 14:08:04 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1133Continue reading ReportMyLoss service now available Nationally→]]>We are pleased to announce that reportMyloss has recently been expanded to encompass the whole of the UK. This will help the public and Police more effectively address the issue of recording and repatriating lost property.

ago to help Avon & Somerset Constabulary more effectively handle how lost property was dealt with. The service integrates directly and in real-time with the Police’s National Mobile Property Register (www.theNMPR.com) ensuring the owners of recovered property can be quickly be identified and repatriated with their possessions.

The service successfully replaces the often paper based recording processes that still exist in many property offices. The benefits of this are numerous and significant for all parties:

A paper based report will likely be sat in a book at the property office – reportMyloss is an online National system ensuring the items details can be searched by any UK Police force regardless of location.

Getting to a Police station to make a report, can be a time consuming and costly process – reportMyloss is based entirely online, allowing low cost reporting at your convenience day or night.

Many lost items need to be reported for insurance purposes – reportMyloss provides standardised and verifiable loss report numbers that insurers may accept and/or require to process a claim.

For the Police the benefits are significant and measurable. Forming part of the National NMPR system, use of reportMyloss makes it far more likely the owner can be identified. This not only helps clear property rooms and reduces storage costs. Also importantly it removes the burden of taking the loss report from the Police force. These savings free up Police resources that can then be targeted on more important Policing duties.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/10/03/reportmyloss-service-now-available-nationally/feed/0Preston Police urge residents to safeguard their valuables using Immobilisehttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/09/30/preston-police-urge-residents-to-safeguard-their-valuables-using-immobilise/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/09/30/preston-police-urge-residents-to-safeguard-their-valuables-using-immobilise/#commentsMon, 30 Sep 2013 09:00:42 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1147Continue reading Preston Police urge residents to safeguard their valuables using Immobilise→]]>Preston Police are urging residents to safeguard their valuables and avoid being targeted by thieves by entering their items onto the Immobilise National Property Register.

www.immobilise.com is a website which allows members of the public to register their valuables for free, using IMEI, Serial or Frame numbers. Any item can be added, from TVs to toasters, bikes to jewellery, but the most popular products which are stolen include mobile phones, laptops, games consoles and sat navs.

It’s simple to use and only takes a couple of minutes to create an account and add an item, then it can be updated at leisure. For those that don’t have access to the internet, they can speak to their neighbourhood policing team, who

Police check any items they recover against the database using the dedicated NMPR service, if it’s been registered they can easily identify the owner and return the property to them, even if it hasn’t been reported stolen.

The initiative is part of Preston Police’s Operation Immobilise. Any residents that already have an account can also take advantage of free window and property stickers, which are available from their neighbourhood policing team. Street signs have already been put up in the Plungington area, in particular Cambridge Close and Ripon Street.

PCSO Stephen Connolly says:

Whilst we continue to do everything possible to trace the people involved in theft and burglaries in our communities and put them before the courts, we are also asking residents to play their part by taking simple crime prevention measures. Immobilise is a powerful tool for all constabularies and helps us to identify offenders as well as reunite victims with their property.

Officers are holding free property logging sessions at the Newcastle Shopping Park in Byker on Tuesday, July 23, Wednesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 25, from 9am to 3pm daily.

People are invited to come along to the mobile police office in the car park and officers will register items for them on www.immobilise.com – The UK Nation Property Register. You don’t need to bring the items with you, just bring the details of

them and an officer will open your account which you will be able to add to at any time.

It only takes a couple of minutes to use the site to record the make, model and serial numbers of property from mobiles, iPods, TVs and laptops to bicycles, jewellery, power tools and portable sat navs. The secure site can only be accessed by the registered user.

Police check any items they recover against the database; if it’s been registered they can easily identify the owner and return the property to them – even if it hasn’t been reported stolen.

It’s simple to use and residents can add more items to the site when they get home, to make sure all valuable property is recorded and kept up to date.

This is part of Northumbria Police’s volume crime campaign – Operation Soundwave – aimed at ‘turning up the volume on crime’ and silencing opportunist criminals during the summer months.

Neighbourhood Inspector Deborah Alderson, said:

By holding this crime prevention three-day event at the start of the school holidays we hope people will take advantage of the opportunity to get help security logging their property.

At this time of year we often see an increase in opportunist theft from homes and vehicles. To deter thieves security log your property on the crime prevention site then, if an item is stolen and subsequently recovered by police it can be reunited with its rightful owners.

We continue to do everything possible to trace the people involved in theft and burglaries in our communities and put them before the courts, but we are also asking residents to play their part by taking simple crime prevention measures.

I’d also encourage residents to report anything suspicious they see in their neighbourhood to police at the earliest opportunity so we can investigate.

If you can’t get along to the crime prevention event at Newcastle Shopping Park officers are encouraging residents to register their property themselves on a free crime prevention website – www.immobilise.com – and increase the chance of getting any stolen items returned.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/07/22/northumbria-police-aim-to-immobilise-thieves-and-property-crime/feed/0Police to reunite owners with lost and stolen bikes in Gloucesterhttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/07/11/police-to-reunite-owners-with-lost-and-stolen-bikes-in-gloucester/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/07/11/police-to-reunite-owners-with-lost-and-stolen-bikes-in-gloucester/#commentsThu, 11 Jul 2013 07:28:02 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1123Continue reading Police to reunite owners with lost and stolen bikes in Gloucester→]]>The Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard have reported that Police officers are hoping to get cyclists back on their bikes by reuniting owners with lost and stolen bicycles.

It is an opportunity for anyone who has had their bike stolen recently to come and view the ones that have been recovered at the Police station on Lansdown Road, Gloucester this Saturday, July 13 between 9am and 2pm.

Police Community Support Officer Kim Graham who organised the event said:

We run these viewings on a regular basis and often have some really good results. It is worth popping along as there is a chance you could get your stolen bicycle back.

Anyone wanting to attend must bring their crime letter with them. All those who have reported their bike stolen will have received a letter with a unique crime number on it. Officers will be offering security marking and crime prevention advice as well as encouraging cyclists to register their bikes on immobilise.

We’re also encouraging other cyclists to come along to the station with their bike and we’ll mark it for them and help show them how to register it – this will make it a lot easier for us to return it to you if it does get lots or is stolen

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/07/11/police-to-reunite-owners-with-lost-and-stolen-bikes-in-gloucester/feed/0Recipero recieves the prestigeous Secured by Design awardhttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/06/20/recipero-recieves-the-prestigeous-secured-by-design-award/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/06/20/recipero-recieves-the-prestigeous-secured-by-design-award/#commentsThu, 20 Jun 2013 15:46:37 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1111Continue reading Recipero recieves the prestigeous Secured by Design award→]]>Recipero is pleased to announce that it recently received the highly regarded Secured by Design (SBD) Award for its services and products, including the Immobilise National Property Register service & products, plus linked services including the Police NMPR service, CheckMEND and Report My Loss, all of which are aimed a helping identify, investigate and deter crime and associated criminality.

The Secured by Design Award is the culmination of many months of work that

Secured by Design is the initiative from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that aims to reduce crime and calls for the use of services or installation of security solutions that meet police-approved standards. Businesses whose services and/or products have been certified by an accredited testing body to the specified standards, can apply for SBD membership and licence to utilise the scheme’s logo.

The SBD logo is the only symbol that guarantees national Police approval of a product or service, providing customers with reassurance that the solution provides a proven level of resistance to criminal attack.

Utilising SBD-accredited services and security products is a quick and simple way to ensure compliance with new guidelines. Consumers and specifiers are also recognising that SBD provides an easy route to help identify which of the many technical standards indicates a service or product is an effective crime prevention measure.

Neil Stewart, Recipero’s Commercial Director said:

Gaining SBD approval for our services is a significant achievement, and demonstrates Recipero’s commitment to data security and product quality. It also serves to provide Recipero’s valued customers with reassurance that we continue to meet the high standards we have reputation for delivering.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/06/20/recipero-recieves-the-prestigeous-secured-by-design-award/feed/0Sims Recycling Solutions integrates CheckMEND as they expand into Mobile Deviceshttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/05/17/sims-recycling-solutions-integrates-checkmend-as-they-expand-into-mobile-devices/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/05/17/sims-recycling-solutions-integrates-checkmend-as-they-expand-into-mobile-devices/#commentsFri, 17 May 2013 11:20:42 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1104Continue reading Sims Recycling Solutions integrates CheckMEND as they expand into Mobile Devices→]]>Sims Recycling Solutions, a global leader in electronics reuse and recycling, has announced it that it has expanded its U.S. asset management services to include mobile devices, such as feature phones, smartphones and tablets.

Based on the most recent numbers from International Data Corp., it’s clear that mobile devices, especially smartphones, have continued to erode personal computer sales. Worldwide PC shipments totaled only 76.3 million units in the first quarter of 2013, while worldwide smartphone shipments totaled 216.2 million units. Sims realises this technology shift is changing asset management practices, so the company has invested in the resources necessary to successfully manage the unique challenges associated with mobile devices.

As an extension of our existing asset management services, we have added new ones that simplify the task of managing mobile devices

stated Steve Skurnac, president, Sims Recycling Solutions, Americas.

By using our established global infrastructure, technical expertise and strategic partnerships, Sims is able to fully support the needs of those customers with broken, end-of-life or surplus devices. Our customers can be confident that the same secure, certified and environmentally sound procedures we use to process other electronics will be used to refurbish, remarket and recycle their mobile devices.

To protect its customers from two problems that plague the used mobile device market—stolen devices and fluctuating prices – Sims has signed an agreement with CheckMEND, the world’s largest source of information about used electronics and developed a proprietary system called Price Base.

partnership with CheckMEND, Sims can perform the due diligence necessary to assure customers that the devices the company offers for resale are legitimate. Sims has integrated the CheckMEND application into its inventory management system to automatically check cellphones and tablets when they arrive at a Sims facility. Items with negative report results will be flagged and dealt with on a case-by-case basis. The Price Base system gives Sims the ability to research every available mobile device and know its current value so Sims can competitively price used devices.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/05/17/sims-recycling-solutions-integrates-checkmend-as-they-expand-into-mobile-devices/feed/0CheckMEND and GameStop Partner to Strengthen Electronic Trade-in Programhttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/05/15/checkmend-and-gamestop-partner-to-strengthen-electronic-trade-in-program/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/05/15/checkmend-and-gamestop-partner-to-strengthen-electronic-trade-in-program/#commentsWed, 15 May 2013 14:13:09 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1092Continue reading CheckMEND and GameStop Partner to Strengthen Electronic Trade-in Program→]]>CheckMEND the world’s leading due diligence service for used consumer electronics today announced it has secured an agreement with GameStop to deploy its software in all GameStop’s US stores to identify devices that are not eligible for trade.

Developed by UK-based Recipero, CheckMEND is a unique, cutting edge system that allows retailers and recyclers to proactively identify unacceptable devices and stop them from entering the supply chain.

Using data that is aggregated from over 20,000 data sources (including the FBI) CheckMEND provides access to its service to both enterprise and consumers. GameStop is the first major retailer in the US to integrate its application at point of sale. With a data warehouse containing over 150 billion records of information that is relevant to any buyer of used consumer electronics, CheckMEND is fast becoming the “go-to” data provider for this type of information.

Consumers are becoming more aware of the value that exists in their old electronics. That precipitates a need for reliable data and methods to ensure that retailers are protecting consumers. GameStop is leading the way for other retailers to follow suit.

“We are delighted that GameStop has stepped up to the forefront of consumer protection” said Adrian Portlock Founder of CheckMEND. “Our product allows GameStop to protect their customers, their associates in store and their reputable brand by deterring unwanted activity. GameStop has set the bar for other responsible retailers.” “GameStop will continue to invest in technology solutions that offer our customers the best and safest choice to buy, sell or trade video games, consoles and electronics” said Joe Gorman Vice President of Mobile at GameStop. “Working with CheckMEND, we have further enhanced our process, and we are already reaping the benefits of the service in our stores and our state of the art refurbishment center.”

About CheckMEND
CheckMEND is a service provided by Recipero Limited, a privately owned U.K. company, which has specialized since 2001 in the collection of data relating to the history of used consumer electronics (www.checkmend.com). It has grown into the biggest online provider of this type of information to both the trade and the consumer and is currently focused on expanding its operations in the USA. General information on Recipero can be found on the company’s corporate website at www.recipero.com.

About GameStop Corp.
GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is the world’s largest multichannel video game retailer. GameStop’s retail network and family of brands include 6,602 company-operated stores in 15 countries worldwide and online at www.GameStop.com. The network also includes: www.Kongregate.com, a leading browser-based game site; Game Informer® magazine, the leading multi-platform video game publication; Spawn Labs, a streaming technology company; a digital PC game distribution platform available at www.GameStop.com/PC; and an online consumer electronics marketplace available at www.BuyMyTronics.com. General information on GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company’s corporate website. Follow GameStop on Twitter @www.twitter.com/GameStop and find GameStop on Facebook @www.facebook.com/GameStop.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/05/15/checkmend-and-gamestop-partner-to-strengthen-electronic-trade-in-program/feed/0West Midlands Police sign up to Code of Practice to stop sale of stolen goodshttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/01/22/west-midlands-police-sign-up-to-code-of-practice-to-stop-sale-of-stolen-goods/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/01/22/west-midlands-police-sign-up-to-code-of-practice-to-stop-sale-of-stolen-goods/#commentsTue, 22 Jan 2013 14:50:53 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1071Continue reading West Midlands Police sign up to Code of Practice to stop sale of stolen goods→]]>West Midlands Police are one of the

first forces in the country to fully embrace a new code of practice aimed at slamming the door in the face of thieves trying to sell stolen goods.

A Home Office Code of Practice encourages forces to get second hand stores signed up to a scheme where they check all items offered up for sale against the CheckMEND database which logs if goods have been recorded as lost or stolen.

The force have hundreds of stores such as Cash Converters, Cash Generator, Cex and other independent second hand stores signed up to the scheme and are launching it in style on 23 January with an Impact Activation Day.

On the day officers across the force will be at second hand stores, schools and shopping centres registering goods onto the immobilise database for free.

Each of the stores who have signed up check items offered for sale against the CheckMEND site. Each search generates a unique certificate number. This can be issued to a potential buyer to prove that at the time of purchase the item was not reported lost or stolen and no adverse information was recorded against it.

Now we can use CheckMEND we can buy items from people who come in off the street. We have been dubious about doing that in the past because we have not been able to trace the history of the item. This has opened up new possibilities in how we can conduct our business that is of real benefit to us and our customers.

DC Vanessa Lewis from Force CID who is heading up the project to get all West Midlands second hand stores signed up said:

Our officers have been passionate about getting stores signed up as one of the main ways we can stop the sale of stolen goods and ultimately deter burglars and thieves.

The more the public register their goods on immobilise, the more effective the system will be.

For details of where officers will be across the force area on 23 January please read the full article available in this linked PDF: Full West Midlands Police Article

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/01/22/west-midlands-police-sign-up-to-code-of-practice-to-stop-sale-of-stolen-goods/feed/0Police urge residents to help immobilise thieveshttps://blog.recipero.com/2013/01/17/police-urge-residents-to-help-immobilise-thieves-2/
https://blog.recipero.com/2013/01/17/police-urge-residents-to-help-immobilise-thieves-2/#commentsThu, 17 Jan 2013 17:07:06 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1065Continue reading Police urge residents to help immobilise thieves→]]>Residents in East Lancashire are being advised to take a few simple crime prevention measures to avoid being targeted by thieves.

Officers are encouraging people to register their phones, gadgets and other expensive items on a property database, such as immobilise.com to deter thieves and increase the chances of getting any stolen items returned.

PCSO Alex Catterall said:

Valuables left near windows can prove tempting for criminals and unlocked doors and windows make it easier for them to come in and steal your possessions.

Keeping things out of sight and locking up when you go to bed or leave home can prevent your home being broken in to.

However, if you are targeted by criminals, listing your new phones, gadgets and other presents, including bikes, on a property register database, such as immobilise.com can greatly increase the chances of getting the items returned to you. This is a free service and only takes a few minutes of your time.

When we seize suspected stolen property we can use the database to try and reunite it with its original owner. Second hand shops can also use a sister site to check whether an item is stolen when it is offered to them.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2013/01/17/police-urge-residents-to-help-immobilise-thieves-2/feed/0Gazelle – Leading USA consumer electronics reseller deploys CheckMEND to help identify fraudhttps://blog.recipero.com/2012/11/28/gazelle-leading-usa-consumer-electronics-reseller-deploys-checkmend-to-help-identify-fraud/
https://blog.recipero.com/2012/11/28/gazelle-leading-usa-consumer-electronics-reseller-deploys-checkmend-to-help-identify-fraud/#commentsWed, 28 Nov 2012 16:50:47 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1056Gazelle, one of the USA’s leading high-end consumer trade-in sites, today announced it has deployed CheckMEND, a cutting-edge tool, designed to more accurately detect potentially stolen goods, including smart phones, tablets and computers.

Developed by Recipero, CheckMEND is the largest World’s largest consumer electronics background report service, the system compiles data from all major wireless carriers and law enforcement entities across the USA, providing the most complete database of devices available. Gazelle is the first consumer electronics trade-in site to deploy CheckMEND and collaborated with Recipero to tailor the product to help address the growing incidences of consumer electronics theft.

comes at a good time with the proliferation of high-end consumer electronics theft. In fact, New York City’s police commissioner recently reported that Apple products now represent more than 40 percent of stolen property in the city and San Francisco police report that nearly half of all robberies in the city in the past year have been cell phone related.

We are dedicated to providing the best customer experience possible, and part of that promise is to protect each customer’s personal data

said Israel Ganot, CEO, Gazelle.

We always take security very seriously. With the CheckMEND deployment, we’re taking this to a new level, committing not only to the protection of a customer’s personal data when we receive the device, but also going the extra mile to ensure that any devices we accept are being sold by the rightful owner and to discourage and prevent theft of consumer electronics.

Recipero’s CheckMEND service makes it possible to do a more thorough screening by checking a vast set of carrier and law enforcement sources for a much broader set of consumer electronics. CheckMEND is capable of comparing each inquiry against more than 150 billion records of information, including more than 50 billion items.

The event is being run by officers and local volunteers in Oadby where shoppers are going to be encouraged to sign up to the Immobilise National Property Register.

Police Community Support Volunteers will be in the Foyer at Asda, Oadby on Monday November 26, 2012 between 10am and 4pm encouraging people to sign up to the free Immobilise Project.

They will be using the latest state of the art technology – called Hermes – to sign people up to the scheme. The Hermes scanner is a hand held device which can be used to accurately and quickly register property onto Immobilise. It is a very quick and simple process which is also very secure. Shoppers will receive an email to say they have registered with the scheme when they get home and they can then add more property.

The main aim of the project is to encourage residents to register their property on the UK National Property Register, Immobilise, which is supported by all UK police forces.

It takes less than five minutes to create an account and register one item – usually a mobile phone. Other items that can be registered include, laptops,i-pads, i-pods, games

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2012/11/21/leicestershire-police-immobilise-registration-event/feed/0Police teach students how to deter thieveshttps://blog.recipero.com/2012/09/18/police-teach-students-how-to-deter-thieves/
https://blog.recipero.com/2012/09/18/police-teach-students-how-to-deter-thieves/#commentsTue, 18 Sep 2012 14:17:34 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1045Continue reading Police teach students how to deter thieves→]]>Avon & Somerset Police are offering students advice on how to deter thieves this week as part of Operation Relentless, keeping you safe.

On Sunday September 16 2012 3,000 students arriving at the University of the West of England were given advice on keeping themselves and their property safe by university-based PC Matt Holloway.

For the rest of the week, PC Holloway will be giving students the chance to register their laptops, phones, bikes and other valuables on www.immobilise.com as part of Relentless, keeping you safe.

Neighbourhood Inspector Bob Evely said:

Registering your property for free on the immobilise website, along with marking it with your postcode, is known to deter thieves. They know that we will be able to prove the item has been stolen and identify the rightful owner. UWE students wanting help with registering their property can contact PC Holloway at the police post at the university. Of course nothing beats making sure you lock your doors and windows and never leaving your laptop or other valuables on display in your car.

Avon & Somerset Police also recommend installing security software on phones and computers which can help trace your property if it is stolen. For more security advice visit their website, www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

An initiative which is aimed at helping to reunite owners with lost or stolen property is to be launched in Bangor.

The Immobilise register is an online tool where people can register items such as mobile phones free of charge. Once an item has been registered, officers can access the database to trace the owners of any property they may recover.

Other valuable items such as iPads, laptops, iPods, game consoles, cameras and satellite navigation systems can also be registered with Immobilise.

The free Immobilise property registration service is a very powerful tool in the fight against crime,

said Chief Inspector Andrew Williams from North Wales Police.

We are urging people to register their property, in particular items such as mobile phones onto the Immobilise database. It only takes a few minutes and if your property is stolen and later recovered, there is a greater chance of it being returned.

He added:

The more people that register their phones on the Immobilise website, the better chance we have of tracking down criminals and returning stolen property back to its rightful owner.

Immobilise has been used by different police forces all over the country and has proved to be a popular tool in deterring crime.

Tesco, Currys/PC World, Argos, Phones 4U, Get Connected, Orange, Carphone Warehouse, Three and Mobilia. They have all agreed to distribute Immobilise leaflets to anybody purchasing a mobile phone from their stores.

Chief Inspector Williams added:

We are very grateful to the stores for supporting us with promoting this initiative. Together, we can take positive steps to deter the buying and selling of stolen goods.

Register your property free at Immobilise and improve your chances of getting it back if it’s ever lost or stolen.

Remember:

Never leave your phone on display in your car – this will tempt a criminal

Keep your phone on you, not near you. Never leave your phone on tables or bars in pubs and restaurants

Thieves are opportunists – don’t make yourself an easy target by showing off the handset you’re carrying around

Keep details such as the make, model and unique identification number (IMEI number) of your handset. This can be found behind the battery, or by dialling *#06#

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2012/08/31/north-wales-police-protect-your-mobile-phone-with-immobilise/feed/0CheckMEND adds finance data to its history report servicehttps://blog.recipero.com/2012/05/09/checkmend-adds-finance-data-to-its-history-report-service/
https://blog.recipero.com/2012/05/09/checkmend-adds-finance-data-to-its-history-report-service/#commentsWed, 09 May 2012 16:20:43 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1020Continue reading CheckMEND adds finance data to its history report service→]]>As from today CheckMEND will be checking millions of records supplied by finance providers.

This means that if we have a record that the item you are searching has a current finance agreement outstanding on it we will let you know.

We hope this will be a useful addition to the service as many of you have told us this is a major issue and concern for you as you don’t want to buy items where there is outstanding finance.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2012/05/09/checkmend-adds-finance-data-to-its-history-report-service/feed/0Sheffield Police recommend Immobilise as cycle thefts continue to soarhttps://blog.recipero.com/2012/04/24/sheffield-police-recommend-immobilise-as-cycle-thefts-continue-to-soar/
https://blog.recipero.com/2012/04/24/sheffield-police-recommend-immobilise-as-cycle-thefts-continue-to-soar/#commentsTue, 24 Apr 2012 08:31:07 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1015Continue reading Sheffield Police recommend Immobilise as cycle thefts continue to soar→]]>Cycle theft in Sheffield is a growing problem according to recent report in the Star. It was reported that only 41 of the 1,595 bicycles stolen from Sheffield city centre in the last 10 years have ever been recovered by police. The number of bike thefts in the city has soared in the last decade, particularly around the railway station and the universities.

With the average stolen bike costing just under £400, that means cyclists in Sheffield have been saddled with a bill of £638,000.

If stolen, the device alerts police by text and officers use Google Earth to pinpoint its location.

Sgt Nugent advised cyclists to spend at least 10 per cent of their bike’s value on a lock and said two locks were always better than one. He also urged bikers to register their property at Immobilise – the UK national property register.

The Immobilise Property Register is linked directly to Police systems helping to quickly identify the rightful owner of recovered property, for more information go to www.immobilise.com/about

We are delighted to have been formally awarded this accreditation. We have always worked within a framework of management processes and standards not dissimilar to ISO9001 and this now allows us to work towards several other accreditations we

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2012/03/31/recipero-achieve-iso9001-quality-management-accreditation/feed/0London Mayor Boris Johnson joins the Immobilise Property Registerhttps://blog.recipero.com/2012/01/23/london-mayor-boris-johnson-joins-the-immobilise-property-register/
https://blog.recipero.com/2012/01/23/london-mayor-boris-johnson-joins-the-immobilise-property-register/#commentsMon, 23 Jan 2012 10:31:38 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=1001Continue reading London Mayor Boris Johnson joins the Immobilise Property Register→]]>As part of the launch of Mayor Boris Johnson’s YOU Matter (Youth Organisations in Uniform) programme, the Mayor has become a member of the Immobilise National Property Register with the aid of the Merton Volunteer Police Cadets.

Using the Mayor’s own phone, the Cadets explained how police use the unique IMEI number to identify stolen mobile phones and arrest offenders, whilst registering his handset on the free property protection database.

In plans outlined by the Mayor today, thousands of youngsters will have the opportunity to join uniformed groups like the Volunteer Police Cadets, Guides, Scouts and Armed Forces Cadets. The £1.3 million programme, being run by the Safer London Foundation, will help young people develop vital skills and instil discipline

and responsibility in young people, particularly those who are or at risk of being excluded from education, training or employment.

The initiative is part of Team London, the Mayor’s strategy to harness volunteers to deliver key projects to improve the quality of life and opportunities of Londoners.

Speaking at the Merton Sea Cadets Centre for the launch, the Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

Uniformed groups are a fantastic way for youngsters to get involved in a myriad of activities, which will help equip them with the skills they need to succeed in life. It’s a modern tragedy that so many of our young people are struggling to get a foothold in the jobs market and are drifting into crime. By instilling self reliance, discipline and a sense of competition, young people can aspire to a better future.

Any item can be registered on Immobilise from small pieces of jewellery to plasma screen TVs and it is especially popular with people wishing to register mobile phones and bicycles. The system records serial numbers and also allows the user to upload a photo and description.

The database is linked directly to police systems, enabling officers to trace the owners of recovered property and to also identify the item as being stolen if found in the possession of a suspected thief. This ability to link suspects to a crime via the database means that Immobilise acts as a major deterrent to criminals.

Detective Sergeant Richard Myszczyszyn, from Skegness CID, said:

Burglars and thieves know that there will be rich pickings to be had in the post Christmas period and the use of the Immobilise database is a valuable addition to your crime prevention precautions. You can register as many items as you like, and then if they are lost or stolen you simply log back on to register them as such. The police can check any property they recover, whether that be from raids, routine checks on second-hand dealers or items brought into custody and, if they find anything that is listed as stolen, not only will you get your belongings back, but the thieves can be brought to justice.

DS Myszczyszyn ended by saying:

We want to send a clear message to those potential thieves that anything logged on Immobilise is too hot to handle. By registering your property and marking it as such, Lincolnshire residents can take steps to ensure they are much less likely to become a victim of crime.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2011/12/05/lincolnshire-police-say-if-you-love-it-log-it/feed/0Oxford police in plea to register bicycleshttps://blog.recipero.com/2011/09/15/oxford-police-in-plea-to-register-bicycles/
https://blog.recipero.com/2011/09/15/oxford-police-in-plea-to-register-bicycles/#commentsThu, 15 Sep 2011 09:12:45 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=982Continue reading Oxford police in plea to register bicycles→]]>The BBC has reported that Police in Oxford are urging residents to register their bikes so they can be traced if they are stolen.

According to the BBC between June and August, 837 bikes were taken in the city – a rise of 141 compared to the same period in 2010.

Sgt Matt Sulley from Oxford police station said bike theft was a huge problem and returning cycles to their owners was the biggest issue.

He said if cycles are registered at immobilise.com police can easily identify the original owners.

In Oxford, Thames Valley Police are currently holding hundreds of bikes.

Sgt Sulley said the large number of cycles in Oxford made thefts a particular problem.

He said that also the large portion of old-style houses in the city meant it was difficult for people to access gardens and sheds to properly secure their bikes.

He added:

There are also criminals making a business out of it. Lots of bikes are being stolen and then stripped for parts which makes them very difficult to trace.

We have also seen a number of very expensive bikes, worth thousands of pounds, locked up with cheap locks.

Between 5 and 25 September 2011 neighbourhood policing teams will be at key locations in Oxford advising people about ways to protect their property.

The recommendation, published on the South Yorkshire Police website says, Police are urging people to log their expensive property and any other precious belongings on immobilise.com – the world’s largest FREE register of ownership details.

In addition to acting as a major deterrent to criminals, the big difference with Immobilise is that as well as getting your stuff back if it’s lost or stolen, the system helps to catch the thieves as well!

The database is linked directly to police systems, so when officers recover any property, for whatever reason, they can check it against items logged on Immobilise. For example, if someone arrested on suspicion of drunk and disorderly has your stolen mobile phone in their pocket, police will also be able to link the theft to them as well – but only if it’s registered!

Any item can be registered on Immobilise. The easiest items to log are electricals, or anything that has a serial number, but you can even log jewellery or ornamental items using the photo upload and description functions.

You can register as many items as you like, and then if they are lost or stolen you simply log back on to register them as such. The police can check any property they recover, whether that’s when a person is brought into custody for any reason, property recovered from criminals in raids, or even during one of their now routine checks on second-hand dealers. And if they find anything that is listed as stolen, not only will you get your belongings back, but the thieves can be brought to justice.

We want to send a clear message to those potential thieves that anything logged on Immobilise is too hot to handle. As a member of the South Yorkshire public, by registering your property, and marking it as such, you are much less likely to become a victim of crime.

Earlier in the month, the county saw a number of thefts of mobile phones from cafes, restaurants and bars where people were distracted by an offender who then took their phone.

Whilst these incidents have reduced, there are still a number of mobile phone thefts across Hertfordshire and police are reminding the public of three key things to keep in mind:

Register your phone for free onwww.immobilise.com It could help your phone to be returned to you if it gets lost or stolen.

Keep your phone safeDon’t leave it in your car, in an open handbag or pocket and never leave it unattended in a public place, even for a second.

If it gets stolen, block it immediatelyIf you are unlucky enough to have your phone stolen, let your phone operator know immediately and they can block the phone so that a thief can’t use it – and also report it to police.

Unfortunately some people are tempted to report their mobile as stolen when they know they have lost it instead – false reporting is a crime. This is an offence and, where there is evidence, police will prosecute. Prior to reporting your mobile as stolen to police, you will be asked to make a declaration that you understand the consequences of making a false claim.

Posters with the numbers of mobile phone operators are now displayed in most station receptions and are available on the police website – search for ‘mobile phone security’.

If you report your phone as stolen to the police, officers need the serial number, known as the IMEI number, of your handset to be able to fully investigate the offence.

The IMEI is a unique 15 digit number assigned to the handset at the point of manufacture. It will be placed on a national database to which all UK police have access. If you don’t have IMEI number to hand, it will be on the box the phone came in or you can obtain it from your network operator. The best way is to register it for free on www.immobilise.com, that way you have an online record of number and police can return it to you if it gets lost or stolen.

You must also ask your operator for the handset and SIM card to be blocked so they don’t work any more.

to trace the owners of a cycle which was targeted last month – who could have been easily traced if they had taken advantage of the free security marking offered by Operation Spoke.

At around 8pm on Friday 3 June 2011, police recovered a bike at the cycle racks near the Minster after someone had made an attempt to steal it.

The bike is in police possession but as yet the owner is unknown and police are urging anyone who believes it belongs to them to come forward.

If this is your bike contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting reference number 12110090973.

Officers are also trying to trace the owner of a black or grey Cannondale Bad Boy hybrid cycle which was stolen from the cycle racks on Tanner’s Moat, outside The Maltings at around 1.40pm on Tuesday 28 June 2011.

A 17-year-old youth was arrested in connection with the theft, however officers need the owner of the bike to come forward and report it stolen.

If you believe this was your cycle, contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting reference number 12110106413.

PC Fiona Wilding of York police, said:

Cycles are often a target for thieves and it is important that people take action to protect their property.

It is advisable to buy a good quality bike lock and if possible use two different styles of lock, as thieves are rarely equipped to break both.

Everyone should also consider having their bike ‘spoked’ to make it easier for the police to catch offenders and return your bike if it stolen.

Security tagging involves having a unique mark placed on the frame of your bike which can then be matched to key details stored on the police database such as make, model and frame number.

The process is simple, quick and free and can be done at the Bike Rescue Project under Lendal Bridge or at regular Operation Spoke events held throughout the city.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2011/07/11/police-say-dont-give-cycle-thieves-easy-ride-register-on-immobilise/feed/0Make life difficult for cycle thieves – Police registration eventhttps://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/24/make-life-difficult-for-cycle-thieves-police-registration-event/
https://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/24/make-life-difficult-for-cycle-thieves-police-registration-event/#commentsFri, 24 Jun 2011 10:42:12 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=941Continue reading Make life difficult for cycle thieves – Police registration event→]]>Cyclists in the Ely area of Cambridge are being urged to help ward off thieves by getting their bikes marked and registered on the National Property register – Immobilise.

Police are holding a free bike marking event at High Barns play area in Ely from 6.30-8.30pm on Friday (24/06/2011).

Information about online property registration database Immobilise will also be handed out.

Registering property on the Immobilise website allows police to quickly trace the owner if it is stolen and recovered.

PCSO Daniel Stewart said:

By encouraging people to register their bikes on Immobilise we hope to stay ahead of the game and stop bike theft.

Immobilise is simple to use and it only takes a couple of minutes to register your property.

He added:

If a registered bike is stolen and then recovered, it is likely to be quickly reunited with its owner and police will have a better chance of prosecuting the thief.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/24/make-life-difficult-for-cycle-thieves-police-registration-event/feed/0Police gear up for T4 on the Beach and encourage registration on Immobilisehttps://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/13/police-gear-up-for-t4-on-the-beach-and-encourage-registration-on-immobilise/
https://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/13/police-gear-up-for-t4-on-the-beach-and-encourage-registration-on-immobilise/#commentsMon, 13 Jun 2011 09:37:00 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=934Continue reading Police gear up for T4 on the Beach and encourage registration on Immobilise→]]>Police are gearing up for T4 on the Beach next month, which is returning to Weston-super-Mare for the ninth year running.

Almost 50,000 people are expected to flock to the seaside town on Sunday

10 July to enjoy live music from a star-studded line up which includes chart toppers Jessie J, N-Dubz and Chipmunk.

But along with the fun and excitement, local police are working hard to ensure the weekend is safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors alike.

Superintendent Richard Cadden said:

Once again this year we have worked closely with the organisers of T4 on the Beach so that we are able to provide a safe environment for everyone. In previous years the event has proved really successful and passed off with only a handful of minor incidents. There will be additional police officers on duty over the whole weekend to ensure that people can feel safe and be safe whether enjoying T4, having a day out in the town or going about their daily business.

In the weeks leading up to the event police are urging people to think about what they can do to have a safe and incident free weekend. Last year the majority of incidents reported to the police involved lost or stolen mobile phones. This year police are urging people to register their property free of charge on Immobilise, www.immobilise.com. In the event that you lose your phone, you can use the facility to tell the police, insurance companies and the second hand trade – greatly improving the chances of recovering your property and capturing thieves.

Supt Cadden added:

This summer promises to be a busy one in Weston, especially with the new Grand Pier attracting many more visitors to the town and we look forward to welcoming back T4 on the Beach again this year.

For further information, including crime prevention and general safety messages, visit our website at www.policeatT4.co.uk.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/13/police-gear-up-for-t4-on-the-beach-and-encourage-registration-on-immobilise/feed/0Police advise public to register bikes and belongings on Immobilisehttps://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/06/police-advise-public-to-register-bikes-and-belongings-on-immobilise/
https://blog.recipero.com/2011/06/06/police-advise-public-to-register-bikes-and-belongings-on-immobilise/#commentsMon, 06 Jun 2011 14:29:05 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=929Continue reading Police advise public to register bikes and belongings on Immobilise→]]>Police in Doncaster are advising the public to keep their property and belongings secure following a recent spate of bicycle thefts across the borough.

During the last few weeks, there has been an increase in the theft of bikes when they have been left unattended outside shops or left insecure in gardens.

Opportunistic thieves will not think twice about taking property that is unattended or insecure, and police are urging the public to be vigilant and secure their property at all times.

Sergeant Jez Fitzgibbons said:

We have had a number of thefts reported over the last week, where people have left their bikes insecure in their gardens thinking they will be safe, or outside shops unattended. Even though they are only away from the bike for a matter of minutes, it only takes seconds for someone to steal it and we want to ensure this doesn’t happen, but we need the publics help.

To deter thieves, always ensure bikes are locked or chained up when left unattended, even when left in your garden.

To also deter thieves from stealing bikes, have the crossbar stamped with your postcode as it makes it more difficult for the bike to be sold on and less likely to be stolen.

Bikes can also be registered for free on the national property database Immobilise, www.immobilise.com, by entering the bike frame number. Should the bike be stolen, it can be identified and traced back to the original owner if found.

Glastonbury Festival, one of Europe’s largest music and arts festivals, takes place between June 22 and June 26, 2011. With more than 175,000 people heading to Worthy Farm in rural Somerset, the policing operation to help people stay safe at the festival is the largest in Avon and Somerset Police’s calendar.

Crime at the festival remains low and last year around 99.7% of people were not victims of crime. Police are reminding those people attending the festival about the things they can do to have a fun and crime-free festival.

Inspector Chris Morgan, who will be working at the festival, said:

Glastonbury is less than a month away now and I know the excitement is building for everyone lucky enough to get a ticket. People have paid a lot of money to come and we do not want anyone to have their experience ruined by becoming a victim of crime.

There are some easy things people can do which will help them have a great festival. The safety tips are quick and inexpensive but can make a real difference. The key thing to remember is to bring with you only what you need and keep anything valuable in the free property lock-ups on the site.

Festival-goers are advised to:

Plan your journey carefully. Check your vehicle is roadworthy, take plenty of food and water with you and be prepared for queues near the site.

Bring only what you need. Anything you do need should be registered on for free on Immobilise (www.immobilise.com) before you set off and either kept with you or, even better, left in the free property lock-ups.

If you need to bring a phone, find an old handset and bring that instead.

Look out for your friends and ask them to look out for you. Try to travel around the site with your friends – particularly at night when it is dark and often disorientating

Festival-goers can stay up to date with news, photos and crime prevention advice online, on social media and through text messages both before and during the festival:

Follow them online at www.glastonburypolice.org
Follow us on Twitter @PoliceatGlasto for regular tweets
Sign up to receive text messages by texting Glasto to 81819

Sergeant Shirley Eden from the Operational Planning team will be taking part in a special webchat. People will be able to log on and ask about crime prevention and what it is like to plan for an enormous event such as the Glastonbury Festival. The webchat takes place between 6.30pm and 8pm on Wednesday June 8, 2011 at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2011/05/27/as-glastonbury-festival-nears-police-advise-registering-belongings-on-immobilise/feed/0The NMPR enables London Cycle Task Force to reunite bike with ownerhttps://blog.recipero.com/2011/05/27/the-nmpr-enables-london-cycle-task-force-to-reunite-bike-with-owner/
https://blog.recipero.com/2011/05/27/the-nmpr-enables-london-cycle-task-force-to-reunite-bike-with-owner/#commentsFri, 27 May 2011 13:25:17 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=918Continue reading The NMPR enables London Cycle Task Force to reunite bike with owner→]]>Immobilise’s Police search portal, the NMPR, continues to help the joint MPS/TfL London Cycle Task Force in identifying and returning stolen bikes and property to their rightful owners.

As reported by BikeBiz, PCSOs Jaime Page, Matthew Sait and Derek Fletcher from the MPS/TfL (Metropolitan Police Service/Transport for London) run Cycle Task Force reunited a stolen bike with its owner this month. While on patrol in Islington on May 3rd 2011, they noticed an unsecure and unattended silver bike upturned outside a sports shop in Chapel Market, London.

The officers checked the frame number of the bike against the National Mobile Property Register (NMPR) to check if it was registered and reported stolen. The checks revealed the registered bike had

The PCSOs detained the suspect – a 17 year old boy from Camden – who was inside a nearby shop. He was then arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods and has since been bailed, to return to police on June 30th.

Cycle Task Force Inspector Graham Horwood said:

We are delighted to be able to return this bike to its rightful owner.

This shows that you can increase your chances of having your lost or stolen bike returned to you, by having it registered and reporting any theft to police. We advise any cyclist to do the three R’s’ – record the details of their bike, register them onto online property databases and report any theft to the police.

The cycle-dedicated team of officers are aiming to cut bike crime in London and has made over 130 arrests since its launch in June 2010.

The NMPR is the dedicated on-line property search system for UK Law Enforcement agencies. It allows the police to search any identifiable item of property to view its registered owners details, if it’s been reported stolen to the system by the police anywhere in the UK, by the owner, the insurance company or in the case of a mobile phone, a network.

Virtually all the forces in the UK use the NMPR with nearly a hundred thousand officers with access via their control centres, handheld devices and computer systems. Hundreds of thousands of checks have been run since the system went live with many arrests and charges brought as a result of the information held on the NMPR database.

]]>https://blog.recipero.com/2011/05/27/the-nmpr-enables-london-cycle-task-force-to-reunite-bike-with-owner/feed/0Immobilise helps South Yorkshire Police reduce property crimehttps://blog.recipero.com/2011/05/26/immobilise-helps-south-yorkshire-police-reduce-property-crime/
https://blog.recipero.com/2011/05/26/immobilise-helps-south-yorkshire-police-reduce-property-crime/#commentsThu, 26 May 2011 11:20:00 +0000http://blog.recipero.com/?p=912Continue reading Immobilise helps South Yorkshire Police reduce property crime→]]>South Yorkshire has claimed a major success on crimes such as burglary and car theft following the recent release of new crime figures. The new figures show that house burglaries in South Yorkshire were at their lowest level in 30 years and that the number of

The statistics also reveal that in the year to March, 29 per cent of all serious acquisitive crimes committed in the county were solved and that crimes of that type were down 11 per cent on 2009/10.

South Yorkshire Police said it had developed specialist teams of detectives to focus specifically on burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.

Technology used at the scenes of burglaries and car crimes has moved on quickly with forensic officers now using shoe match identification as well as DNA and fingerprints.

Intelligence on crime trends and active criminals is also used to deploy officers to priority areas across South Yorkshire, and officers are engaged in “offender management” which involves curfew checks and application of bail conditions to limit re-offending.

Despite record performance for South Yorkshire, it’s critical that we keep the focus on this area of crime which can be emotionally and financially devastating for victims.

Our success is based upon some key factors.

Effective use of intelligence, management of offenders, working with partners and communities, quality investigation, and providing a responsive service day in, day out.

I would like to recognise the hard work of our staff who do a tremendous job across all departments and agencies.

I would also like to thank the public who are reporting crime, marking, securing and recording their property, and providing valuable information to help us track down criminals.

We have had some tremendous success in identifying stolen goods and I would like to remind everyone in South Yorkshire to log their property on websites such as www.immobilise.com which help reunite stolen items with their owners.